Comments on: Growing Up in Books Week

By: Catherine

Catherine — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 17:21:41 +0000

In reply to April @ The Steadfast Reader. I got a lot of comments about that, April, and it appears that there is alot more fiction out there about middle aged women than i thought. I need to get after it!

By: April @ The Steadfast Reader

April @ The Steadfast Reader — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 23:21:16 +0000

I don’t read a whole lot of YA but apparently I don’t read a whole lot of literature with middle aged ladies in it either. I should probably rectify that.

By: Katie @ Doing Dewey

Katie @ Doing Dewey — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 02:25:32 +0000

Miss Marple is definitely older than in her 40’s! The Saturday Night Widows involves some women in their 40’s and despite the sad topic, was a pretty empowering story too. And I think the protagonist of The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles is probably in her 40’s but I’m not sure. Actually, just the other day, I was feeling as though I read a strangely large number of novels about women in their 30’s and older given that I’m only in my 20’s. I’ve loved all the ones I’ve listed though, so I guess it’s working for me 🙂

By: Rebecca @ Love at First Book

Rebecca @ Love at First Book — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 17:27:15 +0000

I actually think I stay away from the 30s+ women books for the most part, but only because I’m just not in that phase of my life yet. Although I bet a bunch of the Oprah Book Club books have middle aged women main characters!

By: Jenny @ Reading the End

Jenny @ Reading the End — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 03:10:32 +0000

You’re totally right about this, although there are exceptions — I see some have been named above, and then also, Jeanne Ray writes books about women older than their thirties.

One of my bloggy friends, Anastasia of Here There Be Books, brought up a similar point on Twitter, though her threshold was even younger: She was saying that all the female protagonists seem to be in their teens and early twenties, and anyway, she started a Goodreads list for books with heroines older than 25. I added loads of books to Anastasia’s list, so rather than recap them all, I’ll just link you to the list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/69706.The_25_Club_Books_Starring_Older_Female_Protagonists

By: Catherine

Catherine — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 18:24:59 +0000

In reply to Ann@Booksonthetable. No worries, Ann! Since posting that I've thought of numerous authors who have done a marvelous job writing of middle-age.

By: Ann@Booksonthetable

Ann@Booksonthetable — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 12:39:00 +0000

In reply to Catherine.

Oh, I wasn’t trying to prove you wrong! I think because I am now middle-aged I gravitate more towards books about people my own age. I haven’t jumped on the YA bandwagon yet — although I’m fascinated by the fact so many not-so-young adults have. One other reading suggestion — On Canaan’s Side by Sebastian Barry. It’s about an elderly Irish immigrant woman looking back at her very eventful life. The writing is gorgeous.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 05:16:39 +0000

In reply to Ann@booksonthetable. Thank you! I love being proved wrong and was pretty certain after I posted this that I would think of examples as well but I love getting new reading options!

By: Ann@booksonthetable

Ann@booksonthetable — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 03:17:32 +0000

Just read Lydia’s Party by Margaret Hawkins — about a group of middle-aged female friends. And how about The Last First Day by Carrie Brown — a lovely book about a couple facing retirement? Or Someone by Alice Hoffman? Being Esther by Miriam Karmel? Or Emily Alone by Stewart O’Nan?

By: Catherine

Catherine — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 00:58:36 +0000

In reply to Shannon @ River City Reading. You're right because The Interestings went through middle-age. Good call! And you reminded me: Anna Quindlan, another one. The week is largely going to be a bit fluffy, which is why I bundled it into an age theme.